Privacy Policy

Privacy and Other Policies

Privacy Policy

Institute for Field Research Expeditions collects personal information for the sole purpose of enhancing our volunteer abroad program quality. We collect personal information primarily from our inquiry form and on-line application form.

We are highly concerned about your privacy and do all we can to protect it. Institute for Field Research Expeditions promises to keep all information about our clients totally private. We never sell our email lists, or any other client information.

The information we gather about your education, your career, your test results, hobbies, phone number, email address, postal address, and interests will be kept totally confidential. Occasionally, we use your email address to send the Institute for Field Research Expeditions newsletter, promotional materials, and event information. You can easily unsubscribe from this service by clicking the link provided in the emails.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Your total application fee to volunteer abroad is $299, of which you made a $99 deposit. For your reference, here’s the link to our refund policy: https://www.ifrevolunteers.org/steps-to-apply.php

When you pay the remaining balance of $200, the following refund policy will apply:

• Full refund if you cancel within 24 hours
• 50% refund if you cancel within 7 days
• 25% refund if you cancel within 14 days
• No refund after 14 days

Sometimes volunteers pay the weekly volunteer abroad program fee directly to the IFRE home office, located in Dallas, TX. This is as opposed to paying your program fee directly to your host family, project, or in-country coordinator once you have reached your destination. If we collect the weekly program fee in Dallas, the following refund policy will apply:

• 100% refund if we fail to give you a placement
• 75% refund if you cancel before the 50 or more days from the start of the program
• 65% refund if you cancel within 35 to 49 from the start of the program
• 50% if you cancel within 15 to 34 from the start of the program
• 25% refund if you cancel with in 14 or Less Days from the Start of Project.
• 0% refund if you cancel the program after the Start of Project.

Refund of $299 of Free China Summer Volunteering

We will gladly refund your $299 application fee if you successfully complete the 4 week or 8 week free teaching program in China. If you cancel this volunteer abroad program or if you quit before the completion of program, NO refund will be given.

Cancellation of Project by IFRE: If IFRE cancels a project before the scheduled start date, IFRE will provide you a full refund of the applicable program Fee.

If IFRE cancels a project after the project start date due to a sudden outbreak of disease, political instability, natural disaster or similar conditions beyond our control, IFRE will refund to you a portion of the volunteer abroad program fee based upon the remaining weeks in the project period. The rate ranges from $50-150 per week depending upon the particular host country, as further explained in the Term Sheet.

Payment of Refunds: Any refunds payable hereunder by IFRE will be made to you within ninety (90) days from the confirmation day of cancellation.

Credit Card Security

Customers who pay through the Institute for Field Research Expedition’s online system are shopping on a secure server, which encrypts the customer's personal information including name, address and credit card number. Encryption ensures that no one can access or use personal information in an unauthorized manner.

Our commerce system was developed in-house with security as its number one priority. This single entry point allows us to maintain the tightest access control - eliminating (rather than closing) the backdoor. Institute for Field Research Expeditions has made an investment in protecting our volunteer abroad clients' and customers' information utilizing the following technologies:

SSL (Secure Socket Layers)

Because we accept sensitive information from end-users such as passwords and credit card numbers, Institute for Field Research Expeditions' site uses SSL. This logic encrypts the data being sent to the server from the browser using high-level encryption technology. Once the data is received from the customers on the Institute for Field Research Expeditions Network, it may be required that the data be maintained for a certain period of time inside our private network. Encrypting the data means it cannot be viewed in plain text.

Return Policy

Institute for Field Research Expeditions doesn't have return policy.

Shipping Policy

Institute for Field Research Expeditions doesn't have a shipping policy.

Choice/Opt-out

Institute for Field Research Expeditions provides you the opportunity to ‘opt-out’ of having your personally identifiable information used for certain purposes when we ask for this information. For example, if you purchase a product/service but do not wish to receive any additional marketing material from us, you can indicate your preference on our order form. If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter and promotional communications, you may opt-out of receiving them by following the instructions included in each newsletter or communication or by emailing us at info@ifrevolunteers.org.